Slipper



Patented May 30, 1939- PATENT oF-FICE amuse smrnn l Edwin J. schnell, Milwaukee, wis., assunti to Badger Glove Mitten Co., Milwaukee.' Wis., a Acorporation of Wisconsin Application January 29, 193s, serial No. 187,603 comme. (ci. ca -2.5)

This invention relates to a novelty slipper of the bunny-shoe type especiallydesigne'd for use by children.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro- 5 vide a slipper of ythis character which has a rated therein in a novel and special Way so as to enliven and enhance the bunny effect of the slipper and yet accomplish this while maintainm ing the comfortable qualities ofthe article and enhancing its appearance and its attractiveness.

' Amore specific object of the presentinvention -is to provide a special construction in a slipper of this type whereinthe fro'nt or toe portion of i5 the shoe is constituted' tojsimulate the appear-- ance of the head of a bunny and" to' provide a chamber for the reception of a whistle,

squ'awker, or sounding device susceptible of. op-

eration either by light pressure applied to the 20 head of the-bunny or bythe user ofthe slipper 'wiggling or flexing the toes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slipper ,having these advantages and capacities and which is simple and .durable in its construction, comfortableand cozy on the feet, and capable of economical production on a large scale.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain.'

Anovel features of the construction, arrangement and combinationof Parts which will be herein- :zo after more fully described and particularly point.-

ed out in the appendedclaims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in lwhich: l Figure 1 is a perspective view of .a slipper em- 35 bodying the present invention;

` .-Figure 2 is a view thereof in central vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a plan'view showingthe sole and designated generally at 26 and shown t'o advaninsole before they are built into the slipper; 4o Figures 4 and 5 are views in top plan of the two blanks constituting the two sections of the upper;V l

Figure 6 is a similar view of the blankwhich is folded and'formedto simulate the head of 4.3`abunny;and Figure 7 is a plan view of the piece of'leather or similar material which constitutes the bottom .wall of the chamberfor the sounding device and the lining for the counter of the slipper and the 50 portionsof the toe thereof. Referring to; th'e drawing, .'it'will be seen that 4the slipper embodying the present invention -in Acludes a sole I of suitable material. An insole IIis appliedl to the top'f the sole II) and has p a fabric bese adhesively united to. the-upper sur- Sqllawker, whistle or sounding device incorpoed and is made up of two similar sections I2 and by a seam or line of stitching 32.

face. of thesole 4Ill and a fleeced upper surface as shown in the drawing. The insole II is thev same inl outline as the sole I' but is slightly smaller so that the edge of the sole II) projects\ beyond the margin of the insole.

An upper designated generally at I2 is provid- I3 both of which may be constituted of sheepskin. 'I'he sections I2 and I3 are similar in construction and each .has a body portion I4, the 10 upper edge portion I5 of. which is folded down 'upon itself as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and secured in such position by a suitable adhesive. When the sections l2 and I3 are built into the shoe their lower edges arev stitched to the edge A portion Ill' ofthe sole as indicated at I1, the adjacent rear edges of the body portions of these sections'are seamed together as at I8 and the meeting edges of the reduced extension I6 are seamed or stitched together as at I9. When so united the body portions of the sections I2 and I3 provide the sides and counter. of the upper and the reduced extensions I6 form portions of the vamp and toe of the slipper.

The interconnection of the upper withthe sole '2- is reinforced and finished by means of an edge binding 2|)V which is folded around these portions of the shoe and united thereto by lines of stitching 2| and 22. Combined with the front portion of the shoe 30 is a bunny head designated generally at and so constituted-as to not only simulate the head of a 'bunny but also provide a chamber for a squawker or sounding device of. such nature as to facilitate operation thereof, and to complete and nish -the front portion of the shoe both externally and internally.

The bunny head is fashioned from a blank tage inFigure 6.'A The blank lof the outline shown 40 has a. notch2'l and slits 28 sothat Vwhen folded v around and stitched to the curved edges I6' of thextension I6 it will take the form of the head of a bunny,` theedges of the notch 21 being brought into engagement and secured together to'simulate the nose of the" bunny, the tab 29 between the slits 28 being folded back under .the head and seemed in position and the triangular portions off'the blank disposed on the outside of edges I6' of the reduced `extensions of the upper Co-acting with the blank 26 to complete the inner struc- 55 ture of the shoe and dene a chamber 33 is a wall forming member 3d constituted 'of leather or suitablematerial and of such size and shape thatit may be stitched as indicated at 35 to the lank 25 inwardly of its edges 3l. The tab 29 is adhesively united to the rearward portion of the underside of the Wall forming member.

A sounding device such as a whistle or squawker is accommodated 'in the chamber 33 and is so combined therewith as to be sounded or operated by exure of the upper or lower walls of the chamber. As illustrated, theA v,sounding device may consist of upper and lower disks t0. and di secured to and closing and sealing the ends of a flexible fabric tube Q2 which is substantially impervious to air. The fabric tube d2 is maintained extended by a light expansible coil spring d3 the ends of which abut and press outwardly against the disks i0 and M. In a central aperture of the upper disk 40 a, short reed or tube M is fastened and has its ends inclined as illustrated. A blade or reed 65 of metal or other suitable material has a portion of its periphery suitably xed to a portion of. the periphery of the inner end of the tube M and overlying the,` aperture Vthereof so that upon passage of air ber 34 and the convex upper surface of theV domed cap 46 is snugly engaged by the inner surface of the body of the blank`26. The frictional engagement is suiiicient to secure the squawker in place.

Eyelets 50, of which one kis shown in Figure 1, are riveted to opposed portions of the bunny head-to simulate the eyes of a bunny or rabbit and to vent the chamber 33 thereby improving and enhancing the action of the sounding device. Moreover, the sounding device, due to the action of its spring 43 and the engagement of the disks l0 and M on which the spring bears, with the top portion of the bunny head and the wall 315, maintains the bunny head in its proper shape and against collapse while of course, allowing the desired exure thereof.

'I'he venting action of they eyelets 50 aids the spring 53 and disks 40 and 4I in maintaining the bunnyhead in the proper shape, that is, against retention in a collapsed or partially collapsed condition. v

With this construction a downward pressure exerted on the head of the bunny or upward pressure exerted on the under side of the wall forming member- 36 will compress the iiexible tubular body 42 of the squawker and force the air therein out past the reed 45 thereby sounding the squawker. As soon as the pressure-is relieved the spring 43 returns the parts, to their normal position as shown in Figure 2. Hence the slipper may be made to make a sound to increase the eiect of its bunny appearance by pressure from theinside or outside thereof. The wall forming member 34 not only provides a lining for the vamp of the shoe but also partakes in the support and the operation" ofthe sounding device. Similarly the bunny head gives the slipper an attractive and novel appearance, completes the structure of the front part of theshoe, and

takes part inthe enclosure of the sounding device and also in its operation. With possessing least from the comfort of the shoe or from its desirable qualities.

While I have shown and described one construction in which the invention Ymay be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that the construction shown has been selected merely with to complete the external portion of the for- Ward end of the slipper, said animal head in- Y cluding an outer iiexible wall forming member simulating the face of an animal, and an inner flexible wall forming member providing the internal structure of the vforward end of the slipper and co-acting with the outer wall forming member to form a chamber within the animal head, and a. resiliently expansible sounding device disposed in said chamber and bearing against the inner side of the outer wall forming member and the inner side of the inner wall forming member and serving to yieldably ,distend the chamber walls to maintain the shape of the animal head while providing for operationof the sounding device upon inward exure of either of said Wall forming members. l'

V2. A slipper of the character described comprising 'a sole, an upper secured to the sole, a bunny head of iiexible material secured to the forward portion of the', upper and coacting therewith to complete the external portion of the forward end of the slipper, a flexible wall forming member disposed within the bunny head and providing the internal structure of the forward end of the slipper and co-acting with the bunny head to form a chamber, and a resiliently expansible sounding device disposed in said chamber .andbearing against the underside of the bunny head and the wall forming member and serving to yieldably maintain the shape of the bunny head while providing for operation of the sounding device upon :dexure of said bunny head or Vsaid wall forming member, and eyelets fastened to opposed portions of said bunny head to simulate -the eyes of a bunny and to provide vents for the chamber and therebyfacilitate-and improve the operation of the sounding device and the normal maintenance of the bunny head in its proper shape. u l

3. A slipper of the character described comprising a sole, an upper made up of a .pair of similar sections having theirlower edges secured to the sole, their rear edges secured together and their forward portions constituted of reduced extensions, with curved upper'edges and with their front edges secured together, a bunny head forming member of iiexible material having curved side edges, a notched front edge and spaced inclined slits in its rear edge, the curved side edges of said member being secured to the curved edges of said extensions, the edges of the notch being engaged and secured togetherY to simulate the nose of the bunny, the Yportions of said member on the outsides of said slits being extended rearwardly and upwardly to simulate the ears of the bunny, a flexible-wall forming mem- 4ber disposed in the slipper and having portions their lforward portions constituted of reduced 'of its `edge secured to the 'bunny head forming member adjacent to and around the curved side edges thereof, said wall' forming member constituting the interior structurejof the vamp of the. slipper, and yieldable means between said wall forming member and the underside -of thebunny head forming member to retain said bunny head forming member in proper shape.

4. A slipper of the character described comprising a sole, an upper made up of a pair of similar sections having their lower edges secured to the sole, their rear edges secured together and -their forward portions constituted of reduced ex- 1 tensions, -with curved upper edges and with their front edges secured together, a bunny head form.- Y

ing member of flexible material having curved vside edges, a notchedfront edge and spaced inclined slits `in its rear edge,.the curved side edges of said member being secured to the curved edges of said extensions, the edges ofthe notch being' engaged and secur'ed together to simulate the nose ofthe bunny, the portions of said member r on the outsides of said slits being extended rearwardly and upwardly to simulate 4the earsv of the bunny, a flexible wall forming member disposed in the slipper and having portions of its edge secured to the bunny head forming member adjacentto and around the curved side edges thereof, said Wall forming member constituting the 'interior structure of the vamp of the slipper, said bunny head forming member having a' tab integral therewith Ain `between said slits and folded back under and secured to said wall forming member, and 'yieldable means between vsaid wall forming member and the underside of f the bunny head forming. memberto4 retain said bunny head forming member in proper shape.' v5. A slipper of the character described comprising a sole, an upper made up of a pair of similar sections having their lower edges secured to the sole', their rear edges secured together and their forward portions constitutedv of reduced extensions, with curved-upper edges and Withtheir front'edges secured together, a bunny head forming 'member of iiexible material having curved side edges, a notched front edge and spaced inclined slits in its rear edge, the curved side edges of said member being secured. to the curved'edges of said extensions, the edges of the notch being vengaged, and secured togetherto simulate the nose of )the bunny, the portions of fsaid, member on the' outsides of said slits being extended -rearwardly and upwardly to simulate the ears ofthe bunny, a flexible wall forming 4member disposed in the slipper and having portionsof its edge .secured -to the bunnyl head forming vmember adjacent t'o and around the curved side. edges thereof, said wall forming member constituting` thel interior structure o f the vamp of the slipper, said bunny head forming'member having a tab integral therewith in between said slits and folded back under and secured to said wall forming member, and a resiliently expansible 'sounding device disposed^be tween said members to maintain the shape of the bunny head and-to b operated by iiexure of either of said members.

6. A slipper of the character described comprising a sole, an upper made up of a pair of similar sections having their lower edges secured to the sole, their rear edges secured together and extensions, with curved upper edges and with their front edgessecured. together, a bunny head forming member of flexible material. having vcurved side edges, a notched front edge and spaced inclined slits 'in' its rear edge, the curved side' edges o f said member being secured to the,

curved `edges of said extensions, vthe edges of the notch being engaged and secured together to simulate the nose of the bunny, the portions of said member on the outsides'of said slits being extended rearwardly `and upwardly to simulate the ears of the bunny, a flexible wall forming member disposed in the slipper andhaving portions of its edge lsecured tothe bunny head formside edges thereof, said Wall forming member 15 ing member adjacent to'and around.the curved constituting the interior structure of the vamp` of the slipper, said bunny head forming member having a tab integral therewith/in between said forming member to simulate the eyes of the bunny and v'ent the space in which the sounding device is enclosed. y

7'. A bunny head for use upon an article of vattire comprising a head forming member of flexible material having side edges, a notched front edge and spaced inclined slits in its rear edge, the .edges of the notch being engaged and secured together tosimulate the. n ose of the bunny, the portions of said member on the outside of said slits-being extended rearwardly and upwardlyto simulate the ears of the bunny, a iiexible wall forming member havingits edge portion vsecured to the side .edges of the head forming member, said wall forming member be'- ing adapted to be disposed adjacent the article of l attire when the bunny head. is secured thereto, said head forming member having a tab integral ytherewith in between said slits and .folded back under and secured to saidwall forming member, and a Lresilien'tly expansible sounding device disposed between and concealed by said members to maintainthe shape of the bunny head and to be operated by ilexure -of the hea'd forming member from the outside of the articleA or by fiexure of the wall-v forming member from the inside of the article of attire.

8. A slipper including a sole, an upper secured to the sole, said upperincluding a flexible portion positioned to overlie the fore part of the foot,

a sheet of flexible material overlying lsaid exible portion of the upper and secured thereto about the edges of said sheet, a resilietly ex.- pansible sounding'f'device mounted in the space between said sheet and the underlying portion 4of the upper and bearing" at its opposite endsv distended and out of contact with each other, said sheet of flexible material and said sounding device being disposed on the upper at a point to foot serves substantially overlie the fore part of thewearers 

